COMMUNITY

More conservation resources for landowners, farmers

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff works with private landowners to help them protect their natural resources. The agency emphasizes voluntary, science-based assistance, partnerships and cooperative problem solving at the community level.

Some types of technical assistance and planning services provided include erosion control practices on agricultural and nonagricultural land; windbreak planning; a wide array of agronomic practices for cropland; wildlife habitat management planning; and pollution abatement practices, such as animal waste facilities and manure management.

The NRCS office provides technical support, including soil expertise, for local projects. Landowners are frequently referred to a district conservationist for help in stabilizing disturbed soils due to building activity or septic system work in critical areas. They can recommend proper methods as well as seed mixtures.

Soil conservation technicians at the Park Rapids field office are Alicia Laturnus (alicia.laturnus@mn.usda.gov) and Dan Pazdernik (daniel.pazdernik@ mn.usda.gov). For information, call 218-732-9723 or visit www.mn.nrcs. usda.gov. The office is located at 603 N. Central Ave., Park Rapids.

WADENA-HUBBARD FARM SERVICE AGENCY

Stabilizing farm income, helping farmers conserve land and water resources, providing credit to new or disadvantaged farmers and helping farm operations recover from the effects of disaster are the missions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FSA. Although the public may obtain general information from the headquarters and state offices, county offices administer all FSA programs. For more information call 218-631-2876, visit www.fsa.usda. gov or email mnwadena-fsa@usda.gov.